GOD’S WORD FOR  MARCH 12

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is  Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

PRAY LIKE BREATHING

Proverbs 2:8-9

“If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”

D.L. MOODY

Think of that!  It may shock some of us to think that our prayers are an abomination to God, yet if any are living in known sin, this is what God’s Word says about them. If we are not willing to turn from sin and obey God’s law, we have no right to expect He will answer our prayers.  The prayer of the humble and the contrite heart is a delight to God.  There is no sound that goes up from this sin-cursed Earth so sweet to His ear as the prayer of the man who is walking uprightly.

ERWIN LUTZER

Some look at prayer like an oxygen  mask – it comes in handy when a crisis arises.  For believers, prayer is oxygen itself.  We pray when we have needs, but we need fellowship with God more than we need our prayers answered.

Prayer yields us to the will of God.  Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10).  Prayer is submission to God’s will.  Jesus in Gethsemane said, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me;  nevertheless, not as I will, but a You will.” (Matthew 26:39).  If your prayer does not lead to submission before God, you haven’t really prayed.

Come to God with an honest and cleansed heart.  Tell Him why you love Him.  Quote verses of Scripture that remind you of His promises and His love for you.  Enjoy fellowship with God.  You are His child if you have truly trusted in His salvation, and God loves it when you show up—especially if it’s just the two of you.

PRAYER

Father, please forgive me for concentrating on other things, and forgetting to seek You first.

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Psalm 116:1 – 4, NLT

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save me!

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1John 5:14 – 15,

And this is the confidence that we have toward Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we may ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.

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1John 3:22,

And whatsoever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and practice the things which are pleasing in his sight.

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Matthew 5:43 – 44,

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you . . .

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1Timothy 2:1 – 4,

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.

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1Thessalonians 5:17 – 18,

Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

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Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

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Ephesians 6:18

Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people.

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